Flexible shaft coupling



Oct. 20,"I953 E. P. NEHER FLEXIBLE SHAFT couPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 28, 1950 @www/.1%

Oct. 20,y 1953 E. P. NEHER FLEXIBLE SHAFT coUPLING Fil'ed Dec. 28, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /E I /don Pau/ Naher BY vu/mimo@ Patented Oct. 20, 1953 f1.3' Claims.

This invention relates i to v v`ilexible *shaft 4coujpllngs "of thetype `-inJ which"relatively'movable "coupling'members are yiel'dably connected -inV such 'manner as tomantain a-drivinig' connection when the coupling members are disposed With=their axes slightly offsetor with theirraxes at-an in- Y"clination "Thecoupling of =thegpresent invention -com nprises two or'more-coupling membersfeach provided Witheircuniferentially spaced axially 4exvtending 'arms that-are :disposed in interlnger- Ting relationv with 'arms-of another rcoupling mem- "ber, "each arm being yprovided AYwith a radially proj ectinfgldriving lug and the `intein-geredA arms of the "couplingfmembers beingy surrounded Vbyfa L yieldable `coupling sleeve in' the form or an annular body fof elasticrubber having.` internal sockets torreceive the driving lugs. lThe sockets of the coupling fsleevei are' so 'positioned that .the "couwpling 'membersf-arefheld' in axially spa-ced relation f "with their torque -arms spaced apartrcircumfer- Eenti'ally. Torque is transmitted from one cou- `Ifiling membervto thel vother throughr portions yof the elastic rubber" body that-fare -xinter-posed Vbev"tween'thelugs ofthe-coupling members and, in forder" to permit the #said #portions f of the velastic =`-rubber.liody frto "distort -suicien'tlyto 1 provide sa r yielding driving connection, radial i clearance is :provided between fthe #interior-f of *the :annu-lar r rubber *body 1and*fthe.:tor-quer. arms. Inforderto 'l preventY excessive fd-istortionnof.thefelastirubber 1'rioddyrunderfheayyztorqueloads, the rubberLbody ffmay'f be iconnedfwithinsa-f shell f of. distortion` re- "/sistazntv materialfsuchaasrsheet Tmetalwvhic-h:closeflyl surroundsi thezannular'rubber: @body andi holds Vthe-outer .periphery.thereofcagainst:distortion.

'heinventilon has"`forxits objecttoprovidesan finexpensive :coupling c' of J. the: character :described wwhichlisJdurablerandf'efcient' in operation.

' Reference..shoul'di:beffhad:to the:accompanying` "Fig'i is an end*el'eva`.tion "partially l'inrtrans- 2 `verse section, showing a'F modified f form-'of Acouf 131mg;

Fig. 7v is an axial sectionl taken on the Alinein- `dicatedat 1 ;1 inlig. 6;

Fig. '8 is anA axial: section 'throughthef elastic rubber cushioning; annulus;

"Figi 9 is a side 'elevationofitheintermediate -'fcoupling-memloer; and

Fig; 10 is an-end elevation of the coupling membershOWninFigLQ.

` Inf'Figs.' 1to 5 of thefdrawingfther is fs-hown a ilexible couplingemployin-g'two substantially 'identical coupling members fl adapted'tobe-secured to the ends ofthe shafts to''be joined-fthe vcoupling members Ifbeingot substantially cylindrical formf and each yhaving-a -row `f circum- `ferentially spaced driving lugs `-2- projecting 'raid-i- 'ally outwardly therefrom. ""The driving flu'gs "2 are equiangularly'spaced about" thefar'cis ff-the lcoupling 'member fan'd AAl '-sha'pd -Yrecesses or lnotches3 are provided'betweenithe driying'rlugs 2 to provide v-'shapejd torque arms itfbetween suc- --cessive recesses'S@whichLareadaptedhto Aentertthe recesses 0f f the kcompanion -couplingmember' to ='dispose the I torquearmsv of thefmembers in intervngered relation.

" The two coupling fmembersl'are? Eheld'.in'faxially spa-cedf relationvaidfwith the 'torquef-armsithere- `o'ffspaced rapart 'circumferentially by means: of 'a l`in planes parallel Ito Athe i lairis of the' coupling members-andthe; sockets Gf alsorhave'flat parallel AssidefWalls?1'.floeimveerrlyvhich ithe `llaga/.2havefav slid- 'z'stantially-.semi-circular form?xandtherlaottomszof the sockets Baa-re also. substantially fsemiecircuiar, itheffdepth yofthe sockets; -iiebeingiipreierably1` such that there is radialscle'arance'lbetweenfnthethe 'lugs`2 and -lthe'bottoms lf the-sockets 6.

"Driving l torque is 2 transmitted fromfone krcoufplingmember to `the f otherl'throughf-the portions "f'theelastic'rubber body fthatlare between' the @sockets 6. 'Y These portions offithe body i5 provide 1inwardly "tapering bodies of rubber i9 f through Whi'chworclue thrusts are transmitte'd'from the driving lugs of one coupling member to the lugs of the other. The clearance provided between the interior of the rubber annulus land the exterior of the coupling members, and between the tips of the driving lugs '2 and the bottoms of the sockets '6 permits the portions 9 of the body 5 to be distorted when subjected to pressure by a relative movement of the driving lugs, so that a yieldable connection is :provided between the coupling members that permits the relative movements of the coupling members that are necessary to provide universal driving connection.

In order to prevent excessive distortion of the rubber 'annulus 5 under heavy torque loads, the annulus 5 may be enclosed within a distortion resistant shell IIJ of sheet metal which engages the periphery of the rubber body 45.

Clearance between the lugs 2 and the bottom of the sockets 6 permits the coupling members to have slight relative axial movements when the two coupling members are axially alined. Misalinement of the axes of the coupling members causes certain of the intermediate portions of the rubber body to be placed under compression,

, the portions 9 being suiiciently yieldable to readily permit of slight offsetting of the-axes of the coupling members, or an angularity between the said axes. During rotation of the coupling members with their axes misalined, the portions 9 of the rubber body are subjected to compression .Y

1 to 5. In this modification the same coupling members I are employed, which are adapted to be attached to the ends of the shafts to be coupled, and an intermediate coupling member II is provided between the two coupling members I. The coupling member II preferably has an external diameter substantially the same as the coupling members I and is provided at each end thereof with a circumferential row of driving lugs I2 which are equiangularly spaced about the axis of the member I I, the lugs I2 at one end of the coupling member being offset with respect to the lugs I2 at the opposite end and midway between the said lugs.

Each end of the coupling member II is provided with V-shaped recesses or notches I3 between successive lugs, which provide axially extending torque arms I4 for each of the lugs I2. The recesses I3 of the intermediate coupling member II are identical with the recesses of the coupling members I and the coupling member, is disposed with its torque arms interngered with the torque arms of the two coupling members I. The coupling members are yieldingly held in axially spaced relation and with their torque arms circumferentially spaced by means of an annular body I `5 of elastic rubber that is provided with circumferential rows of sockets I6 which receive the driving lugs 2 and I2.

As in the modification rst described, the elastic annulus I5 is of an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of thecoupling members7 so as to provide radial clearance between the torque arms and the rubberk body, and clearance is also provided between the tips of the driving lugs 2 and I2 and the bottoms of 4 the sockets I 6 in the rubber body, so that the portions of the rubber body between the driving lugs can be subjected to the distortion necessary to permit slight relative movements between the coupling members, the rubber body |25 being enclosed within an outer shell 20 of distortion resistant material such as sheet metal to prevent excessive distortion under heavy torque loads. By providing one or more intermediate coupling members I I between the coupling members I, the amount of misalinement permissible between the connecting shafts can be substantially increased.

In either modification of the invention the elastic rubber annulus may be stretched and placed around the coupling members with the driving lugs of the coupling in the sockets of the rubber annulus, after which the outer sheet metal shell may be placed upon the rubber annulus and the edges thereof may be turned inwardly to retain the shell on the rubber annulus.

It is to be understood that variations and modiiications of the specific devices herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is: Y

l. A flexible shaft coupling comprising two coupling members having axially extending torque arms that are interiingered and spaced circumferentially around a center, each arm having a driving lug projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and a yieldable positioning and connecting sleeve surroundingV said torque armsand comprising an annular body of elasticr rubber, said rubber body having sockets opening to the interior thereof intermediate its ends in which said lugs engage, the sockets receiving the lugs of one coupling member alternating with sockets receiving the lugs of the other coupling member circumferentially of said annular body, said sockets opening to the interior thereof being positioned axially and'circumferentially of said body to axially space said coupling members Yand circumferentially space said arms.

2. A flexible shaft coupling comprising two coupling members having axially extending torque arms that are interingered and spaced 'circumferentially around a center, each arm having a driving lug projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and a yieldable positioning and connecting sleeve surrounding said torque arms-and comprising an annular body of elastic rubber, said rubber body having sockets opening to the interior thereof intermediate its ends in which said lugs engage, the sockets receiving the lugs of one coupling member alternating with sockets receiving the lugs of the other couplingmember circumferentially of said annular body, said sockets opening to the interior thereof being axially elongated and having parallel side walls between which the said lugs have a sliding t, said sockets being positioned circumferentially of the body to circumferentially space said arms,

3. A flexible shaft coupling comprising two coupling members having axially extending torque arms that are Yinteriingered and spaced circumferentially around a center, each arm having a driving lug projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and a yieldable positioning andy connecting sleeve surroundingY said torque 'arms and comprising'an annular body of elastic rubber, said rubber body having sockets opening to the interior thereof intermediate its ends in which said lugs engage, said rubber body having an internal diameter greater than the couplin'gmembers to provide radial clearance between said arms and said bodyy said sockets being axially elongated and having parallel side walls between which said lugs have a sliding t, said sockets being positioned circumferentially of the body to circumferentially space said arms.

4. A exible shaft coupling comprising two coupling members having axially extending torque arms that are interngered and spaced circumferentially around a center, each arm having a driving lug projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and a yieldable positioning and connecting sleeve surrounding said torque arms and comprising an annular body of elastic rubber, a shell of distortion resistant material surrounding and peripherally engaging said rubber body, said rubber body having sockets opening to the interior thereof intermediate its ends in which said lugs engage, said sockets being positioned axially and circumferentially of said body to axially space said coupling members and circumferentially space said arms.

5. A flexible shaft coupling comprising two coupling members, each having a substantially cylindrical end portion provided with circumferentially spaced axially extending recesses that provide circumferentially spaced torque arms between them, said coupling members being disposed with their torque arms interfingered, each torque arm having an -axially elongated driving lug projecting outwardly therefrom, each lug having parallel at axially extending side faces, and a coupling sleeve surrounding said torque arms and comprising an annular body of elastic rubber provided with internal sockets intermediate its ends in which said lugs engage, said annular body being of an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said end portions of the coupling member to permit distortion of portions of the rubber body between said sockets, said sockets having axially extending side walls between which said lugs have a sliding fit, said sockets being positioned circumferentially of said body to circumferentially space said arms.

6. A coupling such as defined in claim in which the axially extending recesses in the ends of the coupling members and the arms between said recesses are V-shaped, the said recesses being equiangularly spaced.

7. A flexible coupling comprising two coupling members each having a series of axially extending torque arms equiangularly spaced about its axis, said coupling members being disposed with their torque arms interiingered, each of said arms having an axially extending driving lug projecting outwardly therefrom, and a yieldable positioning and connecting sleeve surrounding said interfingered arms and comprising an annular body of elastic rubber provided with axially extending internal sockets intermediate its ends that are of a width to slidably receive said driving lugs and that are positioned circumferentially of the body to circumferentially space said arms, said body being of an internal diameter greater than the interfmgered portion of the coupling to provide radial clearance between the external faces of said arms and said rubber body to allow 6 distortion under pressure of portions of the rubber body between said driving lugs.

8. A flexible coupling such as defined in claim 7 in which each driving lug and each lug receiving socket is substantially semicircular in axial section.

9. A flexible shaft coupling comprising a series of coupling members, each having axially extending torque arms spaced circumferentially about its axis, said members being alined with their torque arms in interngered relation, each torque arm having a driving lug projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and a yieldable positioning and connecting sleeve surrounding said torque arms and comprising an annular body of elastic rubber surrounding said torque arms and having a plurality of circumferential rows of sockets into which said lugs project, said annular rubber body being of an internal diameter to provide radial clearance between said torque arms and the interior thereof.

10. A flexible shaft coupling such as defined in claim 9 in which the driving lugs have ilat parallel axially extending side walls and the sockets of the rubber body have flat axially extending side walls between which the lugs have a sliding fit.

11. A flexible shaft coupling comprising two coupling members having axially extending torque arms spaced circumferentially about its axis, an intermediate coupling member having axially extending torque arms at both ends thereof which are interingered with the torque arms of said two members, each torque arm having a driving lug projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the driving lugs of said coupling members being disposed in axially spaced circumferential rows, and a yieldable positioning and connecting sleeve surrounding said torque arms and comprising an annular body of elastic rubber having two axially spaced circumferential rows of internal lug receiving sockets that are positioned axially and circumferentially of said body to axially space said coupling members and to circumferentially space said torque arms.

12. A coupling such as defined in claim 11 in which the elastic rubber body is of an internal diameter to provide radial clearance between the external faces of said torque arms and said body to permit distortion under pressure of portions of the rubber body between said driving lugs.

13. A coupling such as defined in claim 12 in which a shell of distortion resisting material surrounds the elastic rubber body in contact with the periphery thereof.

ELDON PAUL NEI-IER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,668,330 Morse May 1, 1928 1,992,528 Geyer Feb. 26, 1935 2,079,460 Marty May 4, 1937 2,537,847 Neher Jan. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 224,150 Great Britain 1924 

